How To Choose The Perfect Camera For Your Needs

Choosing a digital camera used to be a simple process that was heavily dictated by the amount of money in your pocket. Now the same money can buy you different benefits and compromises, making the decision much more complex. Here's a look at your camera-buying options, the pros and cons of each, and some specific suggestions to help you pick the perfect camera for your needs.This is a long guide and not every section is relevant to everyone. If you want to skip to the type of camera that interests you, just use these links:

If you're not sure what you want, however, do feel free to read the whole thing.

Mobile Phones and Smartphones

If you have a phone, you may not need a camera at all. The quality of the photos you can take with some phone cameras are good enough to rival what you'd get with a standard point and shoot. So why buy a camera at all if you're already carrying one in your pocket? Maybe you shouldn't.

Because mobile phones and smartphones are comparatively tiny, they use tiny sensors. Bigger sensors will generally produce better pictures, but the sensors you'll find in a compact point and shoot camera are often negligibly larger than what a phone offers. If your phone has a great camera and you don't like porting around an extra device, don't.

On the other hand, if there are times when you do want better image quality you're probably better off getting something nicer than a point and shoot. Point and shoot cameras definitely have their advantages over mobile phones, but sometimes those advantages just aren't worth the money. What you really need to figure out is if your phone is good enough. First, let's take a look at who this type of camera is for.

This type of camera is for...

...people who only want to carry around one device.

...people who just want to take casual photos of friends and family.

...people who care more about the sharing a moment than the quality, composition, and technical aspects of the photo.

...people with smartphones who like using apps to edit their photos in post to apply fun effects and styles.

...people without the extra money to spend on a dedicated camera.

Of course, even if you fall into one of these categories there are pros and cons worth considering.

Pros:

Image quality is usually at least passable and good enough for a 4x6 or 5x7 print.

It is the most social camera you can get. Even basic feature phones often offer some photo sharing features like MMS. Smartphones can upload your photos to practically anywhere via third-party apps.

It's always with you.

It can do a lot more than just take pictures.

If your phone has GPS, you can geotag your photos.

Cons:

In most cases, it provides the poorest image quality of any camera.

Not a dedicated camera, so the camera conforms to the use of the device. This means no dedicated buttons and often a lack of features you'd find in a proper camera.

When your phone's out of battery, so is your camera.

It's not made to handle accessories (although that doesn't necessarily stop companies from making them).

Basically, your mobile phone camera probably shouldn't be your primary camera in most cases unless you have a really good one and don't take a lot of photos. That probably doesn't describe you, however, since you're reading a buying guide for cameras. Nonetheless, if you do care about photography, you probably want to have a pretty good camera in your phone if possible.

Many Android phones have great cameras (some of which are better than others) and they're often made by HTC. The Sensation, EVO 3D and Incredible S all pretty much have the same 8MP camera and it does a very good job.

Point and Shoots

As the smartphone market continues to grow, the point and shoot camera market will shrink. Phones are becoming better and better photography tools because they're connected to the internet and have apps - things dedicated cameras will never be able to do as well. So why buy a point and shoot? Let's take a look at who this type of camera is made for.

...people looking to buy a small camera that can take decent photos and video in easily-uploadable formats.

...people who want a dedicated camera but can't afford much.

...people who don't care about interchangeable lenses or accessories and just want a camera that takes pretty good photos all by itself.

Now let's weigh the pros and cons.

Pros:

Easy to use. Geared towards novices.

Largest range of size options, letting you pick from cameras as small as your mobile phone, almost as large as a small DSLR, and everything in between.

Packed with features you generally won't find in higher-end cameras for several years (if ever).

Many - but not all - point and shoots offer a very large zoom range.

Decent quality, often HD video modes that record to easily-uploadable formats.

Cons:

Lack of/poor manual controls.

Image quality generally isn't much better than a good smartphone camera.

Generally tiny and unusable viewfinders, if they have viewfinders at all.

Hard to use for people with large-ish hands.

Poor audio quality in video recording mode.

It's not made to handle accessories (although that doesn't necessarily stop companies from making them).

New camera models are added all the time and so yours will become obsolete pretty quickly.

What to Buy

There are so many point and shoot options it can be really difficult to figure out what you should get. Many of them are very good, and we can't recommend every single option available, but here are a few that stand out, ordered by size from small to large.

When you want to go tiny, the Canon IXUS 300 HS is a good choice. With any small camera you're not going to get amazing photos, but it still manages to perform pretty well in low light and can record 720p video. It'll fit in your pocket, even if you wear skinny jeans.

The Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9V attempts to do just about everything for $600, and it's mostly successful. Despite packing 16.2 megapixels into its tiny sensor, it actually performs well in low light (for a compact). It records 1080p video at up to 60 frames per second. Like most Sony cameras, it offers sweep panorama and 3D photo modes. It corrects backlighting, has a very long, stabilised zoom range (24-384mm), and is overall a great little camera.

The Olympus XZ-1 offers a fast lens (meaning its better for producing a more shallow depth of field and helpful low-light situations) and a wide zoom range of 28-112mm, which is an option you won't even find on a DSLR. Image quality is good for a compact, and there's really nothing else you can buy that offers such a versatile zoom lens.

For more money, you can pick up the larger Canon G12. Canon's G series has always offered remarkably good image quality in a compact form, but for about $800 you can pick up a nice EVIL camera (covered in the next section) like the Sony Sony α NEX-3 so it's really only a great choice if you don't want interchangeable lenses and DSLR-like features.

Overall, small point and shoots often lose out to mobile phones where large ones often lose out to EVIL cameras. There are fewer and fewer reasons for buying a point and shoot these days, but if it's right for you then one of the above cameras should serve you well.

EVIL Cameras

What is an EVIL camera? EVIL stands for electronic viewfinder with interchangeable lenses. It describes a type of camera that exists between a point and shoot and a DSLR. Much like a DSLR, these cameras have larger sensors (sometimes they're even the same size), support interchangeable lenses, and provide better manual controls. Like a point and shoot, they're often easy to use and aim to be as compact as possible. You may have heard EVIL cameras described as micro four thirds, MILC (mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera), and CSCs (compact camera systems). Each type is a little different but they all attempt to serve the purpose of being more compact, consumer-friendly DSLR-like cameras.

Some people feel these cameras are the best of both worlds because they provide superior image quality in a very portable size. Others feel they compromise on everything, making them just a little too big to be portable and not provide enough image quality for their size. Personally, I think it depends on the model, but we'll talk about that more later. For now, let's take a look at who's best suited for this type of camera.

This type of camera is for...

...professionals who want a camera that's more portable than their DSLR but still provides excellent image quality and decent lens options.

...consumers who want the quality of a DSLR without the hassle and learning curve.

...consumers who want a high-end point and shoot with interchangeable lenses.

...consumers who want a DSLR-like camera with point and shoot-style features (e.g. sweep panorama, 3D images, etc.).

And, of course, let's weight the pros and cons of ownership.

Pros:

Almost all the benefits of a low-end DSLR in a compact size.

Far better image quality than even a high-end point and shoot. (The image quality is often on-par with or better than an entry-level DSLR.)

Small enough to be truly portable.

Interchangeable lenses.

Good low-light performance.

A great choice for beginners who want to step up to a better camera without making the leap to DSLR.

A great choice for pros who want a smaller camera with little sacrifice in the quality of their images.

Accessories like flashes and viewfinders almost always come at an added cost.

In some cases you'll be paying as much or more than a DSLR and that added cost is primarily due to the camera's diminutive size.

I hated EVIL cameras when they first came to market. They were overpriced, not all that much smaller, came with a crappy lens selection, and just weren't as good as an entry-level DSLR. Then the second-generation came along and they got better. More manufacturers started creating these compact, mirrorless devices and prices went down. While lens selection is still pretty bad with virtually every EVIL camera on the market, they rival entry-level DSLRs in image quality while providing a smaller footprint and a lower cost.

What to Buy

When it comes to EVIL cameras, you're basically looking at four companies: Panasonic, Olympus, Sony and Samsung. Sony and Samsung use APS-C sensors, which are the standard for most DSLR cameras. Panasonic and Olympus use the micro four thirds standard, which provides a sensor size that's a little smaller than APS-C. Generally larger sensors are better, but Olympus' PEN, Pansonic's G, Samsung's NX and Sony's α NEX lines all perform very well regardless. In general you're pretty safe choosing based on the price, feature set, and form-factor that appeals most to you. That said, I have a preference.

The Sony α NEX-3 is extremely simple to use without any lack of manual control (so it's great for beginners and pros alike), provides great image quality, has a really good video mode (with actually usable automatic focus), very good battery life, and does all of this in a very tiny package. It is also capable of creating panoramic images by sweeping the camera (neat!) and 3D images the same way (who cares). It's an excellent second camera for professionals and a great first camera for consumers. I bought one as soon as it came out and I've been recommending it to everyone since. This is not to say that you won't be happy with the other EVIL cameras on the market, but having tried them all and owned some I think Sony's done the best job. (Just don't get the NEX-5, as it costs $150 more and basically offers nothing for the price increase.)

DSLRs

While DSLRs may not always be the practical camera you want to have with you, they take amazing photographs. If quality is paramount to everything else, you want a DSLR. They offer so much control and customisation that you have practically no limits on what you can accomplish - at least technically. Of course, there's a big learning curve and also a pretty big price jump when moving to the king of camera types. So what type of person should buy a DSLR? Let's take a look.

This type of camera is for...

...professionals.

...hobbyists who want to get the best image quality possible.

...people who need total control over the technical aspects of their photographs.

...people who need the option of exceptionally good low-light performance.

...filmmakers who want to take advantage of the excellent video modes in many newer models.

...people with money.

There are a lot of pros and cons when it comes to DSLR ownership, especially if you're not a professional. If you're not serious about photography, or serious about learning, it's probably not the type of camera for you. If you are, here are the pros and cons of ownership.

Pros:

Superior image quality.

Vast selection of interchangeable lenses.

Complete control over all technical aspects of your image, while still providing both partial and full automatic options.

Many models offer HD TV-quality video recording options.

Low-light performance is generally very good on the low end and shockingly exceptional on the high end.

Can be controlled by computer, and often a smartphone app.

Highly programmable (especially with higher-end models).

DSLR models are replaced infrequently, so your camera won't become obsolete as quickly.

High resale value.

You can purchase just the camera body without a lens.

Cons:

Often big and bulky, or at least they're the largest type of camera you can buy.

You'll find yourself carrying more than just the camera. You'll want your lenses, too. And while you're carrying such a large bag you might as well stuff it with additional accessories. Owning a DSLR usually means buying a nice camera bag and bringing everything with you.

The vast number of settings and buttons make for a much steeper learning curve than any other camera type. Even if you've used a DSLR before, switching to a new model (even by the same manufacturer) doesn't mean you'll immediately know what you're doing.

Generally lacks most or all of the fun features you'll find in a point and shoot camera, like special effects (e.g. colour replacement) and modes (e.g. sweep panorama).

Video recording has either poor or no automatic focus capabilities.

Poor audio quality in video recording modes.

What to Buy

When it comes to DSLRs, you're generally choosing between Nikon and Canon and picking the best one you can afford (while bearing in mind that a cheaper one might suffice). There are other manufacturers than Canon and Nikon (such as Sony, Samsung and Panasonic) but they offer one of the largest selections of great lenses and it's hard to go wrong with any of their cameras. Generally you're going to get something good when buying a DSLR, so once you know your budget your choice will almost always come down to the specifics.

When making your choice you have to think about what you're going to use it for. Is low-light the most important thing to you? Do you want a full-frame, 35mm-equivalent sensor? What about video? Do you want a camera that takes SD cards or CompactFlash? How important is the autofocus system? First things first, you want to make a list of the features that are most important to you. Then go and read reviews of different cameras and see what's the best fit. Generally you should just get the cheapest camera that does the job you need it to do. It's easy to want a higher-end DSLR that promises magic wishes and world peace, but if you don't need it you can end up blowing a lot of your money on things that don't matter. Before you buy, keep that in mind.

While selecting the right DSLR is going to be pretty specific to your needs, we have a few favourites.

Entry-Level

The Nikon D3100 provides very good image quality at an entry-level price. It's a very good DSLR for beginners, as the interface isn't hard to understand and it has a lot of "hand-holding" features. That said, you don't lose any manual control. It's still a DSLR. It is a pretty low-end DSLR, however, so you shouldn't expect any fancy advanced features.

Alternatively, you could step up to the Nikon D5100, which offers more advanced features and excellent image quality for a few hundred dollars more, but it's not quite as user-friendly.

Around the same price point as the D5100, you have the Canon EOS 600D. It's a great starter DSLR as well. It takes great, 18MP photos, provides very good low-light performance, good 1080p and 720p video, has an external mic input for better audio when recording video, and great overall image quality. You'll just pay a little more for all of these things.

Mid-Range

The Canon EOS 7D and the Nikon D7000 are both the sweet spots of the mid-range. The D7000 has the advantage of being newer and cheaper, but aside from the small differences (that may or may not be important to you) they're both excellent cameras. They're fast cameras, handle low light situations admirably, and generally provide excellent image quality. I'd argue that the build quality and most automatic modes on the 7D tend to be a little better than the D7000, but you'll be paying for it as the 7D is more expensive. Regardless, they're both excellent choices.

High-End

Despite its age, I still consider the Canon 5D Mark II to be one of the best DSLRs ever made. It produces phenomenal images, offers video so good its been used in television productions and feature films, and can practically see in the dark. It is a full-frame camera, meaning its sensor is the digital equivalent of 35mm film, and that amounts to two relevant things: 1) it can't use any of Canon's EF-S lenses (which is bad, because it limits your lens selection), and 2) it doesn't magnify the focal length of a lens by 1.6x like APS-C-based DSLRs do (which is good, because a 50mm lens, for example, takes a 50mm photo and not an 80mm photo). Owning a full-frame camera is really only relevant if you're serious enough about photography to know why you want one, but the basic idea is that it comes about as close to film as you're going to get without needing to withdraw your life savings. That said, we're still talking about a $3500 camera here.

Of course you've also got the Nikon D3X and Canon 1Ds Mark III if you really want to break the bank, but if you can or want to drop that much on a camera you probably don't need to be reading this guide.

Making the Decision

Hopefully this guide has helped you figure out which type of camera is the best fit for you. If you're still not sure, the most important thing to remember is that the best camera you can have is the one you'll take with you and use. Before you make any decisions, make sure you weigh what's important to you. Use that criteria to narrow down the type of camera (or cameras) that you want. From there you should be able to zero in on your best bet. Even a bad camera can take really good photos in the right conditions, so regardless of what you end up with you're best served by picking up some good photography skills. Need a place to start? Check out our Beginner's Guide to Photography.

You may have noticed that we didn't mention every camera ever made, and one of those cameras might be your favourite. If there's a particular camera that you love and you know who it's best suited for, be sure to mention it in the comments.

Trending Stories Right Now

A paper published Monday in a well-known science journal begins with the following sentence: “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a pair of grape hemispheres exposed to intense microwave radiation will spark, igniting a plasma.” A universally acknowledged truth indeed... but what causes this microwave marvel?

There’s an extremely common design trend that may have slipped by right under your nose, slowly taking over seemingly ever new car on the road, one by one. It’s only maybe a couple inches wide at most, and at all four corners of the car. It’s purpose a mystery, until now.